21 Savage Explains Why He Started Rapping

His Savage Mode EP with producer Metro Boomin included the popular tracks “No Heart” and “X’ featuring Future.

According to 21, he spent time selling drugs before he made the turn toward becoming a recording artist.

The Atlanta native discussed why he decided to pick up the microphone in a new interview with Fader.

“I wasn’t like, ‘I got shot, I’m finna be a rapper.’ Sh-t. I just started taking my goddamn dope money and spending it on studio time … I liked how the studio looked. The vibes. The cookies and sh-t,” explained Savage. “But I wasn’t rapping cause I was like, ‘Damn, I can get rich and famous.’ I was gonna get rich regardless. I was rapping ‘cause there wasn’t sh-t else to do.”

Metro Boomin shared why he believes 21 Savage has made a mark on the industry.

The man behind hits such as “Karate Chop,” “Jumpman,” and “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1″ thinks 21’s attitude is what separates him from his contemporaries.

“Rap’s way too friendly. That’s why I f-ck with him,” said Metro. “It’s not buddy buddy, with five, six n-ggas on every song. It’s ‘F-ck that n-gga.’ If you ever see 21 Savage do a song with a rapper, it’s because he got paid the way he wanted to get paid.”